Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Dylan Gambrell made an immediate impact in his first AHL game. Gambrell’s first two career AHL goals sparked the San Jose Barracuda (1-0-0) on AHL Opening Night to defeat the Ontario Reign (0-1-0) 4-1 victory on Friday evening at the SAP Center.

Newly acquired Francis Perron, who came along part of the blockbuster trade that brought Erik Karlsson to the San Jose Sharks, sent a pass over to Gambrell, who snapped a one-timer over the shoulder of Reign goalie Carl Petersen (0-1) on his first shot for a 1-0 lead at the 4:23 mark of the first period.

“It was nice, it’s kind of weight off the shoulders,” said Gambrell on his two-goal performance. “You know get some more confidence, feel more comfortable out there.”

Gambrell delivered his second goal on just his second shot just under four minutes later on the power play. Defenseman Kyle Wood slid over a cross ice pass to Gambrell at the left point and he bombed one past Petersen to double the Cuda lead at the 8:19 mark. Captain John McCarthy received the secondary assist.

“We’ve practiced with each other a couple of times together,” said Gambrell, regarding playing with Perron. “But I think we were reading off each other really well.”

Perron would increase the lead to 3-0 when he was able to clean up a rebound off  a wrap-around attempt from Gambrell. Petersen made the initial save on Gambrell, but wasn’t able to get back in position to stop Perron’s first goal of the season at the 15:53 mark.

“It was a great first period obviously,” said Perron. “I think Dylan had a lot of jump in the first. Me and Vinnie (Vincent Preplan) just followed him and it worked out pretty well.”

San Jose outshot Ontario 14-7 in the first period and controlled the tempo throughout the frame.

Zach Mitchell was able to get Ontario on the board with his first goal of the season in the second period when he was able to tip in a shot from Kale Clague fired from the left point. Mitchell planted himself in front of Cuda goalie Antoine Bibeau to get in position for the tip in that came at the 6:30 mark on the power play.

Maxim Letunov gave back the three goal lead to Cuda late in the second period. After winning a battle behind the goal against Mitchell. He then circled around in between the circles, where he snapped home a back-hander to the left corner of the goal for his first career AHL goal at the 15:43 mark. Jayden Halbgewachs and Nick DeSimone received assists.

Despite being out shot 18-8 in the second period, San Jose carried a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.

“You know (with) 12 rookies (on the roster), I think at this point in the year you take a win anyway you can get them,” said head coach Roy Sommer.

Things got chippy toward the end of the third period when Kurtis MacDermid went after Alexander True after True was called for a boarding penalty. A brief scuffle ensued with six players involved. MacDermid was given a instigator penalty and a game misconduct that resulted in a five-minute power play for San Jose.

Bibeau stopped 30 of 31 shots for his first victory on the season. Petersen suffered the loss, making 23 saves on 27 shots.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1/1 on the power play. Ontario was 1/4.

San Jose has only 11 players returning from last season in a team that features 11 new players.

Defensemen Zach Frye and Thomas Gregoire were healthy scratches for San Jose.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels down south to take on their Pacific Division rival Bakersfield Condors on Saturday, October 6 at Rabobank Arena at 7:00 pm PT.